davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
The Sparrow Nuisance.

The English Sparrow is an enemy Of
our native songsters and drives them
away; he is the foe OF the gardener and
fruit grower, because he expels the in
sectivorous birds, and then solaces him.
self with the young plants, the buds and
the fruit; he is destructive to the grape
crop, and rapicious feeder thereupon.
In ten days, Sparrows in Australia robbed
single vineyard of three thousand
pounds of grapes. This bird is an
enemy to the grain growth, and destroys
the grain in the milk, as well as eats
and wastes it in the ripened head. He
defiles buildings and destroys the vines
that cling to them. He is not
destroyer of insects. These bold
ly fcstoon the haunts of the
Sparrow with webs, and fasten theil
cocoons to them. At first he had the
reputation OF destroying caterpillars,
and the measuring worm. But now
| our Cesar feeds on more toothsomt
meat. The State Entomologist of New
York has proven by observation, that
the caterpillar thrives where the Spar
row most abouuds, and the same con
clusion is reached by more than ont
English cntomologist. The loss from
Sparrows in England is put at fou
million dollars year. In Australi,
the loss is greater, and in the Unitet
States it passes computation. i [Ameri-
can Agriculturist.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
How PretzcIs are Made.

The lower floor or bakery proper,
where pretzels are knea ded and cooked,
is pretty hot place, the temperature
standing at ninety to ninety-five de-
grees. This heat is necessary to "raisc"
the pretzels. Ths most striking
features of the scene, are vertical
boiler, steam machine like a big
clothes ringer, few men with long
handled shovels working at blazing
ovens, dozen boys rolling little bits of
dough into pretzel shapes, vat OF boil
ing lye, and great rack of boards COW
cred with pretzels.
First the dough is kneaded in great
kneading trough, the only ingredients
being flour, yeast, salt and warm water.
The dough is much sitter than that
used for ordinary bread. When we'll
kncaded it is lifted in great Jumps and
run for about fifteen minutes through
the steam rollers, machine that works
exactly like steam clothes-w -wringer.
This makes the dough more consistent
and putty-likc and leaves it in great
sheets about an inch thick. Then it is
cut in strips and these strips rolled on
the large baking boards. The strips are
about three feet long and an inch iu
diameter. These stiff, round strips are
then run through cutter which cuts
them into sections about an inch long.
The boys work consists in making
these sections into pretzcls. Each sec
ton is rolled by hand on the board until
it is the shape of thick lcadpencil, and
then by rapid twist it is made into the
prctzcl form already described. The
pretzels are then laid on boards and the
boards piled on top Of each other as high
as the ceiling They arc left thus about
half an hour, by which time the heat o.
the atmosphere has made them pretty
stiff and dry, while the yeast has begun
its work and swollen them out to some
| extent.
Then they are thrown in the vat Of
boiling lye, and in about minute and
half they float to the surface. They
| are SKINNED off with wire ladies as fas
as they rise, and arc then spread on thu
blades otlong shovels and sprinkled will
salt. In this way they are thrust int
the oven and baked for about twent!
minutes. The oven is kept at heat thn
would burn loaves to cindcr, yer.
strong heat being necessary for prctzels
They are then put il wire boxes ant
left for half a day or so on the sccon'
floor directly on top of the oven, whicl
dries them thoroughly aud leaves thcr
ready for use. Then they are packed Ii
boxes which hold about seven and
half pounds or over 300 pretzels.
| [Chicago Tribune.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
Six Stricken Sioux.

In 1881 l was hunting some lost
horses in the broken country west of the
Big Horn river. l had ridden all the
morning over a country that was strange
to me. About eleven o'clock crossed
plateau, and was surprised to come
suddenly to the edge of canyon, tho
existence of which had not even sus-
pected. In the canyon was stream
with clumps of cottonwood timber along
its banks, aud in one of the open spaces
was an Indian lodge. The Indians that
hunted in that country werc peaceable,
but tho war was just over, and the
Sioux was feeling very sore. If they
were Crows or Arapahoes I might
get some information about my
horses. lay down and watched. No
smoke came from the tepee; no one
moved around it; half dozen ponies
grazed few hundred yards distant
There was not even dog, which looked
rather suspicious. After waiting five
minutes knew no more than at first.
Suddenly three white-tailed deer came
from the timber and walked leisurely
across the opening, Then knew that
the camp was deserted, and the strange
ness of 1t startled me. mounted and
rode down to the creek, and straight to
the tepee. l threw back the flap, and
shall remember what saw until death.
In the centre of the tepee was spread a
, buffalo robe and on the robe were guns
and scalps and many arrows; and
sitting cross-legged in q circle
around the robe were six braves Of
the Sioux Nation. All were in their
prime all decked out in war paint, and
| each one held bow and arrow in hi;
hand. On every face was an expression
of calm indifference, as of one who
neither suffers nor enjoys, neither hopes
nor fears. Tho faces were those Of
dead men, and smallpox had marked
them with its awful mark. They took
their misery with their heads up, and
even the horrors Of this disease could
leave upon their hearts no stain of fear
upon their brows no marks of suffering
And this that their God might judg'
them men, and fit them to pitch thei
camps forever in the groves and greer
fields of paradise. Il Washington Star.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
An Unexplored Country.

Morocco is sometimes called the
"China Of the West" for it is fully as
much behind the times, and is even
more of mystery. There is really less
known about some parts of 1t to-day
than there is about the centre Of Africa.
Its area has never been accurately CON-
puted, and its population has been vari-
ously estimated at from two and a half
to eight millions; the very names of the
tribes that compose it being unknown.
Its high mountains, the lofticst on the
Mediterranean, are unexplorcd, and
many of its inland cities have never
been entered by European. -ICosmo-
politan.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
Art Running to Extremes.

"Herc, come into our sitting room,
will you" said Buff Ito gentleman to a
Courier reporter; 81 just want to show
you how art can be prostituted. Ny
wife has gone and bought stove and
paid SIS for it $40 for the heating ap-
paratus and $35 for those nickel gim-
cracks and figures on it, and those tiles
iammcd into it. told her she had NO
sense of the fitness of things If We
want nickel statnettcs and tiles, let's
have 'em where they belong, and not on
a pesky stove. A stove is made to give
warmth, not to serve as crockery cab
met. The next step will lie art coal
hods, art dish-pans. art potato barrels
and art rat t-traps. Tho palmer and less
conspicuous stove is the better. A
stove covered with these gewgaws is as
out OF place as a coal HEAVIER going to
work in dress suit and patcnt leather
pumps"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
So LONDONDERRY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1887
.sHere i am. y said a pentlo voice.

'uere am, saiu SchIie NoiCo.
She opened her eyes and raised her
head. Frank stood beside her.
"You have been asleep" said he,
smiling.
"Asleepr
Gay, and have been dreaming"
"Dreaming 2" murmured Kitty; "and
Is this all dream ?"
~ hope So" taking her hand. Il
knew you would not drive me from you
so cruelty; SO I waited in your fathers
room, where have been talking with
him for the last hour. I came back to
plead my cause once more, and found
you asleep where l left you"
"Ah, what frightful dream" MUIR
INJURED Kitty, rubbing her eyes. 'It
was so like hideous reality that I trem-
BILE when think of it. l thought l was
marriedw
eff it was so terrible" said Frank,
II hope you did not dream you were
married to me-"
"No; l thought that had given my
hand to one who had not, and to whom
1 could never give my heart"
$50, then, he to whom you give youl
hand must first have won your hearth"
eyes, Frank, he must" said Kitty,
smiling through her tears; 'and there
it isn
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
Ice That Nayor MaltS

1t Is remarkable indeed that so much
of the surface ground on the Yukon is
frozen solid to depth Of several feet.
1t is all tho moro so whom VIC como to
realize the fact that during the summer
it gets as hot there as in the South.
During the heat of the past season the
miners found it great convenience to
go in bathing in tho streams at least
twice day, and to seek shady places
in which to rock the gold out Of the
gravel. At the breaking up of winter
the hours of sunshine arerapidly incrcas-
ing, and continue so until midsummer,
when the sun beams forth twenty-five
hours out of the twenty-four, while on
the high moantain peaks it is for a
period of several days in June not en-
tircly out of sight during the twenty
four hours. But during all this heat
and long days of continuous sunshine,
the suns rays do not penetrate the heavy
mosscs that cover nearly the entire sur
face Of the country, and consequently
the frozen ground underneath lies in that
state as if packed in an icc-house. After
it once becomes frozen, as any damp
ground will do in the winter time, it
quickly becomes covered with this moss,
which is of remarkably rapid
growth, and attains depth of some two
feet or moro. During the heat Of sum-
mcr this moss becomes dry to the depth
ofsevcral inches, and the miners think that
by continuous burning of it as fast as
it dries they will soon have tho gravel
bars along the creeks at least, cleared
off, being of the impression that when
the gravel deposits are exposed to the
scorching rays of the sun and the
rains and atmosphere they will readily
thaw out. When winter sets in the
hours of sunshine gradually decrease,
until during the shortest days the sun
shines but four hours out of the twenty.
four. But at this period the aurora is
most intense and helps very materially
in driving darkness from that drcary
land. The thermometer goes down tc
10 degrees in winter, but the atmos.
phcrc is very dry and consequently tht
cold is not so pcrccptiblc as one would
imagine. Juneau (Alaska) Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
Wonderful Skill with q Rifle.

B. A. Bartlett of Randolf, in this
state, is remarkable rifleman. Ina re-
cent exhibition of his skill he is said to
have hit common white bean at a dis
tance of twenty-five yards, holding his
rifle in various positions. He also hit
postal card that was set up edgewise.
Using thirty-two calibrc ball he shot
through thirty-two calibre pistol bar
REL the bullet splitting on knife blade
on the further end of the revolver bar
ri and each half of the bullet breaking
an egg. He ignited parlor match held
by person at the target stand, knocked
the ashes from cigars and concluded by
shooting bean from the nose of a
friend who had sufficient confidence in
his skill to permit the attempt. All
these remarkable shots are vouchcd for
by reputable witnesses. - Chicago
News
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
Coursing the Jack.Rabbit.

One of the most exhilarating sports
known in the West is the jack-rabbit
coursing on the plains. 1t is not in
dulged in in the Eastern States to any
extent, owing to the lack of plains and
jack-rabbits. But to many man who
has lived in the West the mere mention
Of the words will call up train OF
memories of stirring dashes over the
snow-covered prairies after the rabbit
and hounds.
A brace of racing greyhounds held
with leash, followed by score or
more of lovers of the sport on horseback,
start out on bracing winter morning,
when there is light covering of snow
on the ground, for the places where the
jack-rabbits are wont to congregate.
The jack-rabbit is unknown to the cast
ern part of this country. He is the
counterpart of the English hare. He is
larger than the common rabbit or SCOT
ton TAIL" He has long legs, and in
race is runner worthy the attention of
the heetest of greyhounds. The coursers
search in the snow for a fresh jack-rab-
bit track and follow it up. When the
rabbit is spied the hounds are let loose
and rush after him. The whole crowd
of horsemen follow after, whooping and
yelling and urging on their horses to the
top of their speed.
The hounds do not at first attempt to
catch the rabbit. They arc too wary for
that. They simply try to run him down.
The jack-rabbit is an expert at dodging,
and the hounds try to head him off
whenever he attempts to make sharp
turn. At last by superior strength, and
the advantage of two to one, they sue
ceed in firing him out, and he falls an
easy victim. Every time hound heads
the rabbit off it is point in his favor.
Two points a,e placed to the credit of
the dog which catches the rabbit. A
referee, mounted on swift, sure horse,
leads the followers Of the dog and marks
the points. In this way it is decided
which hound wins. Stakes of from
$25 to $1O0 are usually up on these
races. - Boston Transcript.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
PEARLS OF THOUGHT.

Time wasted, is existence; used,
life.
Fame comes only when deserved, and
then it is as inevitable as destiny.
How much better is tho love that is
ready to die than the zeal which is ready
to kill.
No cord or cable can draw so forcibly,
or bind so fast, as love can do with only
single thread.
Don't get into anybody's way with
your naturalness, but try to bc yourself
wherever you 60.
Tho strongest friendships have been
formed in mutual adversely, as iron is
most strongly united by the fercest
flame.
Beauty deprived of its proper foils
and adjuncts ceases to be enjoyed as
beauty, just as light deprived of all
shadow ceases to be enjoyed as light.
People with unlimited powers of ex.
pansion always are nched; it is good
for them; one of the saving laws of ma
ture that keeps things decently together.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
HUMOROUS.

A new thing in socks--a baby three
days old.
A watch that don't run doesn't need
any chain.
A week feature in the calendar-Every
seven days.
The most insane of the cereals is uu-
doubtedly cracked wheat.
The barber is a firm believer in the
theory of rotation of crops. .
The men. who marry most frequently
for money are the ministers.
Money is so tight now that some peo-
pie haven't even any loose change.
A poet sings: "a little further on
shall find rest" Keep him moving.
The man who is slow to express an
opinion might just as well send 1t by
freight.
The thing that woman always
knows best is how some other woman
ought to dress.
The woman who can control her
tongue is greater than he who taketh o
city. She is also scarccr.
Odd, isn't it, but people who pass
their lives, so to speak, on beds OF
down, seldom get down in the mouth.
Giving slippers to clcrgymen has gone
out of fashion. The disobcdicnt chill
dren get them just the same, however.
The man who has an expensive health
lift fitted up in his bedroom seldom gets
up muscle enough to bring up the
family coal.
George Westinghouse. Jr., inventor
of the air brake, is worth 50, 900, 900.
This is, perhaps, the largest fortune
ever made out of wind.
The hay press was invented by a
woman, which leads wag to suggest
that she got the idea from desire to be
huggcd from all sides at once.
II thought you took an unusual in
terest in my welfare" remarked an un.
successful lover. ''No, indeed" she
replied, "only in your farewell"
The man who wouldn't take ''no'' for
an answer has gone into amateur pho
tography and is taking negatives right
and left whenever he get, a chance.
When you see man on moonlight
night trying to convince his shadow that
it is improper to follow gentleman,
you may be sure it is high time for him
to join a temperance society.
Daughtcr--Wasn't Julius Cesar one
of the strongest men that ever lived,
par Father-What makes you ask that
question: Daughtcr-I was just read
ing that he threw a bridge over the
Rhine.
Timid young suitor who has won con-
sent of rapa-"Aud now may ask, sir,
whether - ah--- whether your daughter
has any domestic accomplishments"
Papa (sarcastically) Eyes, sir; she
sometimes knits her brows."
Little brother, whose sister is playing
cards with a gentleman-Mr. Smiler,
does Minnie play cards well9 Mr..
Smiler-Yes, very well, indeed. Little
brother-Then you had better look out
mamma said if she played her cards
well she would catch you.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
Nearly 100000, 900 People in China.

The authorities of Pekin have recently
taken census of the Empire, and as it
was for taxing purposes the pronencss to
dis believe in the large estimates must
be modified accordingly. The figures
returned by the village bailiffs made the
population 316, 1888, 500, which together
with tho estimates of five provinces
omitted, makes the aggregate about
500, 900, 900. These figures arc indie
pendent of the population of Corea,
Tbibet and Kashgar. As the popula-
ton of India exceeds $50, O0o 900, the
Hindoos and Chinese constitute more
than half the entire human race. Lon.
don Times.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
The Singing Leper.

A Saxon king with merry throng
OF mobiles hunted in a wood
At eventide, when 10! song
Most wondrous broke, a tremulous Hood
or praise from distant lips unseen.
The hunters halted, listening keen
To catch each nearing echo, till
Among the trees form unclean,
A leper white moved up the hill
Across their path, and sang the WHILE
His hvid features wore smile;
His wrinkled hands were clasped in prayer
While living death, master vile,
Made all his flesh n thoroughfare
For swift and myriad-footed pain.
And all the while he sang his strain;
Then spake the king with stirring call,
And bade him halt; and with his train
The king moved on with care withal
And questioned him with pitying gaze.
"How sing you thus these words of praise
When life is death" A moments pause,
Then smiling answered he: 81 raise
My voice in songs of joy because
Although leper, yet know
THAT as my frame decays L grow
More near the sure deliverance
That comes from God, whose graces flow
Through all the wastes of circumstance
And moves by life and soul to Him.
The kings and nobles' eyes grew dim.
Then turning to his train the king
Spake thus: "Unto the very brim
Is this mans sorrow, yet they bring
Rejoicings, for he trusts his Lord
''This leper's voice shall here record
We have not hunted all in vain.
Our spoils this day is as a sword
Whose shining blade shall conquer pain.
And to our homes we turn again
| With larger faith and nobler word.
Lyman Whitney Allen in the Independent
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
PRICE THREE CENT?
Wealth Untold.

Seek your treasure and you'll find
1t exists but in the mind.
Wealth is but the power that hires
Blessings that the heart desires;
And if these are mine to hold
Independently Of gold,
And the gifts it can bestow,
I'm richer than knowl
Rich / am il, when l pass
Mid the daisies on the grass,
Every daisy in my sight
Seems a jewel of delight
Rich am l, if can see
Treasure in the flower and tree,
And can hear mid forest leaves
Music in the summer ewes;
If the lark that sings aloud,
On the fringes of the cloud,
Scatters melodies around
Fresh as raindrops on the ground;
And l bless the happy bird
For the joy it has conferred;
If the tides upon the shore
Chant me anthems evermore;
And ! feel in every mood
That life is fair and God is goodi
am rich if I possess
Such fund of happiness,
And can find where'er l stray
Humble blessings on the way,
And deserve them ere they're given
By my gratitude to heaven.
chambers Journal
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
COnsiderate,

Two inhabitants of Marscillcs, city
whose residents are not noted for BASH
fulncss, were lion-hunting in the Afri-
can desert.
One of them, although so terrified
that he could scarcely stand, began to
whistle to keep up his courage,
'Shut up" cried the other, you'll
frighten the lion. Judge.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
Cure for Chained Hands.

Wash the hands with fine soap, and
before removing the soap scrub them
with a tablespoonful of Indian meal
rinsing thoroughly with soft tepit
water, wipe the hands perfectly dry,
then rinse them in very little water
containing teaspoonful of pure glycer.
inc, rubbing the hands together until
the water has evaporated. The glycer-
inc must be pure or it will irritatc in.
stead of healing.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
Caught.

He-What will you have, dear, candy
or ice-cream2
She-No, Edward, get me some pop
corn, please.
He--Do you like that stuff
She--Yes; l like everything that
pops.-l Harpcr's Bazar.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
"a Drink and a Rock"

shall never again say that the Massa-
chusetts people are not hospitable,
writes the New Orleans Picayune's Bos-
toa correspondent. 4 day or two ago
l was driving along country road just
outside of Boston, and CHANGED to stop
at farm house to inquire my way. An
old lady came to the door and, having
given me the information i desired,
politely asked me to have, so she cx-
pressed it---"a drink aud Il rock" BY =
"drink' I rather supposed she
meant glass of milk. The
Crock was luxury the nature
of which was beyond imagining. Salts
fed, however, that it was something in
viting, accepted tho offer with thanks,
and, having tied my horse, went inside.
My hostess thereupon requested me to
be seated in her best rocking chair, and
poured me out glass of water. ''Now,
she said ''you can have drink and q
rock, and rest yourself as long as you
like" Certainly this is the most mex
pensive entertainment have ever heard
Of. 1t beats the o clock tea all hollow
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
A Hard Hit,

''If l were bald as you," said Gus
Smith to one of the most prominent
citizens Of Austin, 81 would wear
wig"
II don't see why you should ever
wear wig il you were bald" was tho
quiet response. "An empty barn
doesn't need any roof. "--ISiftings
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
The Cause Of IL,

Wife (who has had her photograph
taken)---I think the expression about the
mouth, John, is too firm.
Husband--A trife, perhaps; but it
was probably an effort for you to keep
it shut INV dear. New York Sum-
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
A ponhlr obserrant Youngstcr.

A Calumet avenue boy, age three, is
unusually bright and observing. The
other day his father said to him, after
the little fellow had furnished an in
stance of his acutcness:
Nothing escapes your eagle eye,
Harold"
mo, nor my eagle ear, either" re-
piled the lad-[Chicago Tribune.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08

Bc not the fourth friend OF him who
had three before and lost them.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-08
TIE LONDONDERRY SITTER.

Advertising Rates
hrulshed on application. Births, Marriages
and Deaths published free. Obituary notices
sards Of thanks, etc., 8 cents q line.
Address SITTER OFFICE. South Le.des.
derry, VT.